She ducked her head. “We need to talk.”
“Okay.” He loosened his arms, and when she tipped her face up, he took her mouth, kissing her with all the possessive protectiveness churning inside him.
At first she went still, but when she finally gave in, sinking against him, he held her face and gentled the kiss, then put his forehead to hers.
All the anger he’d held at bay sounded in his tone now. “I wanted to kill him. You know that, right?”
Eyes closed, she swallowed and gave a small nod.
“But I would never deliberately embarrass you. You need to know that, too.”
“Thank you.” She started to turn away, but he caught her waist and sat her on the table, then flattened his hands at either side of her hips.
“Understand, Yvette. The second I saw you, I knew what you were feeling.”
Her green eyes stared into his. “Shame?”
That made him frown. “Worry.”
“I was feeling both, actually.”
“You hid it well. I’m proud of you.”
Now she frowned.
“You can confide in me. Lean on me. You know that, right?”
“I know.” Her smile flicked with sadness. “But I don’t want to be that person anymore.”
“The person who needs me?” Because, damn it, he wanted her to be that and more.
“The girl who burdens you.”
He let out a sigh. “Now you’re just trying to piss me off.” Before she could be offended by that, he kissed her again.
She put a hand to his jaw, gentled him and his anger. “Everyone out there was looking.”
“They knew what was going on, yes. That’s on Heath, not you.”
“I don’t want them all thinking I’m pathetic.”
He shook his head. She’d been hurt so badly, and no matter how she covered it up, how determined she was to soldier on, the wounds hadn’t yet healed. “Don’t be silly, okay? No one here is judging you. In fact, any woman in your position would get the same consideration and concern from the guys.”
Getting her gumption back, she pushed off the table. “I don’t want it.”
“Really?” He caught her hand and held it. “Fine. You go tell a bunch of fighters that they don’t need to notice when some ass**le comes in hassling a woman half his size. Go ahead. See the reaction you get.”
This time real humor teased her mouth. “Stop it.” She dropped against him with a groan. “You know I’m not going back out there yet.”
He rubbed her back to soothe her. “In about two minutes you are, because we’ll be heading out.” This was his world, his family. He wanted her comfortable in it, under any circumstances. He wanted his family to be her family.
“You’re still working with the kids,” she pointed out. “And you haven’t yet showered.”
Given the way she cuddled into him, she didn’t mind that he was a little sweaty. “Armie’s finishing up with the kids and I can shower at home. In fact, I was thinking maybe—”
Armie cleared his throat.
They both turned to the doorway.
Beside Armie was a big guy who topped even Cannon by a few inches. His nose had been broken multiple times, his right ear thickened from too many hits. Both his goatee and his Mohawk needed a good trim.
Yvette eased back, but Cannon put an arm around her, keeping her at his side. “Justice. What’s up?” He leaned forward for a handshake.
Grinning, Justice drew him away from Yvette and into a giant bear hug. “Good to see you, Saint.” He clapped Cannon hard on the back.
After suffering the embrace, Cannon stepped back and flexed his shoulders. “Damn, man, no reason to break my spine.” He drew Yvette forward. “Honey, this is Justice.”
She held out her small hand. “A fighter, I take it.”
“Aw, bet the ears gave it away, huh?” As he’d done with Cannon, he ignored her hand and hauled her in for a much gentler hug, then kept her pinned to his side with his massive arm over her shoulders. “This is a new addition, ain’t it, Saint? Every one better’n the last.” He squeezed her. “Don’t know how you do it, but I approve, I approve.”
Yvette just laughed as she freed herself. “Nice to meet you.”
Armie leaned in the door frame. “Justice has some news to share.”
“Yeah?” Cannon indicated the chairs. “Want to sit?”
“Actually, I’d rather check out your joint here, if you don’t mind.”
“Make yourself at home.”
Armie choked, but Cannon had no idea why.
With another face-splitting grin, Justice said, “Your boy there is strangling himself, so I may as well tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’m dropping a weight class. Already got shit set up with the boss, so next go around—” he pointed a finger back and forth between their chests “—will be you and me. Winner gets a title shot. What do you think about that?”
It took Cannon by surprise. Not that he’d be fighting for the title. He’d been expecting that.
But hell, Justice had lost only one fight as a heavyweight, though the man he’d lost to had been one hell of a barrier to the championship, so it made sense to shift gears. “I think you chose a harder path, because we both know I’ll take you apart.”
“Ho!” Justice laughed out loud at that, making Armie flatten his mouth. “So f**king cocky.”